According to a new study, beards contain just as much, if not more, fecal bacteria as a toilet. KOAT 7 reports that microbiologist John Golobic, of Quest Diagnostics in New Mexico, swabbed a number of beards searching for bacteria.

‘I’m usually not surprised, and I was surprised by this,' said Golobic.

While some beards contained normal bacteria, others contained fecal matter. Although none of the levels were enough to cause illness, Golobic says "there would be a degree of uncleanliness that would be somewhat disturbing."